The Central British Columbia mountain forestsecoregion in north-central British Columbia, Canada occurs as a relatively narrow band oriented in a northwest-southeast direction. It encompasses part of the Rocky Mountain trench and most of the Hart ranges of the Rocky Mountains and the Omineca Mountains. This ecoregion is within the Nearctic Realm.

This ecoregion’s climate is considered Alpine and Subalpine southern Cordilleran. Mean annual temperature is around 2°C, mean summer temperature is 12°C, and mean winter temperature is between - 10°C and -7°C. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 500 to 700 millimetres, increasing from the northwest toward the southeast, and with elevation from east to west in the south. Climatic conditions in the valleys are characterised by warm, dry summers and mild, snowy winters. Subalpine summers are cool, wet, and prone to early frosts. Subalpine winters are cold and snowy.

The western section of this ecoregion encompasses the southern section of the Omineca Mountains, which form a bed of Paleozoic and Mesozoic sedimentary and massive crystalline rocks. The west also encompasses the eastern ranges of the Skeena Mountains, which are composed of Jurassic and Cretaceous sediments and volcanic strata. Both ranges have peaks around 2400 metres above mean sea level. The central section of the Rocky Mountains extend down through the center of this ecoregion, and are relatively subdued, yet rise above the prairie plains to the east. The Eastern Continental ranges are linear with great cliffs and thick sections of gray carbonate strata. Rock outcrops are found along most peaks and ridges.

Among the rare ecological and evolutionary phenomena are large wetlands in valleys on the windward side of the Hart Ranges. The Rocky Mountain trench is a major north-south flyway for migratory birds. In addition, Caribou (Rangifer tarandus) are found in southern parts of the ecoregion and Dall’s (Ovis dalli) and Bighorn sheep are found within 150 kilometres of each other.

Reptiles

There are several reptilian taxa that are found in the ecoregion: the Common garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) and the Western terrestrial garter snake (Thamnophis elegans).

Amphibians

Columbia spotted frog. Source: William Flaxington/ EoL
The only salamander species found in the Central British Columbia mountain forests is the Long-toed salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum); the only anuranAn amphibian that has limbs but no tail (includes all frogs and toads) species Western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), Columbia spotted frog Rana luteiventris) and Wood frog (Lithobates sylvaticus).

Conservation status

Habitat loss and degradation

Approximately 75 percent of this ecoregion remains as intactThe condition of an ecological habitat being an undisturbed or natural environmenthabitat. Deforest via logging has been one of the principal activities resulting in habitat loss, and has to date been focused primarily in the Rocky Mountain Trench. It is now moving into all major valleys and, along with increased road access, the rate of habitat loss is increasing significantly in some locales. A major dammed reservoir (Williston Lake) now blocks east-west movement by wildlife across the Rocky Mountain Trench and to some degree the north-south movement down the Rocky Mountains. A major hydroelectric transmission corridor transects Pine Pass. Mineral exploration and mines are also responsible for habitat loss and degradation.

Note that no valley bottoms, sub-boreal spruce forests, large (natural) lakes or riverhabitats remain that are unroaded, unlogged, or without mineral exploration.

Degree of fragmentation

Habitat fragmentation in this ecoregion has been caused primarily by road-building and logging in valley bottom lands. Williston Lake (a reservoir) has created a major barrier to the movement of wildlife in the center of this ecoregion.

Degree of protection

Monkman Provincial Park - 401.7 km2

Gwillim Lake Provincial Park - 91.99 km2

Patsuk Creek Ecological Reserve - 5.54 km2

Sukunka Falls Provincial Park - 3.6 km2

Chunamon Creek Ecological Reserve - 3.44 km2

Ecological threats

Aside from the significant impacts of the Williston Reservoir on large mammals, logging is the most serious threat. All commercially viable forests are slated to be logged within the next 50 years.

Suite of priority activities to enhance biodiversity

Establish more protected areas representative of the region, especially mid and low elevations and valley bottoms.

Relationship to other classification schemes

Within the Montane Cordillera Ecozone are the Central British Columbia Mountain Forests, which are distributed throughout the Omineca and Rocky Mountains (TEC 199 and 200). As with other ecoregions in western Canada, the Northern British Columbia forests are made up of different forest types. This ecoregion includes the Columbia forest region (1), Montane Transition (4), Interior Subalpine (2), and Tundra. The Central British Columbia mountain forests is given the ecocode NA0509 by the World Wildlife Fund.

Disclaimer: This article contains some information that was originally published by the World Wildlife Fund. Topic editors and authors for the Encyclopedia of Earth have edited its content and added new information. The use of information from the World Wildlife Fund should not be construed as support for or endorsement by that organization for any new information added by EoE personnel, or for any editing of the original content.